what do you LOVE about your daycare?

what do you LOVE about your daycare? and what do you hate?

Re: what do you LOVE about your daycare?

This is easy for me to answer, I love my daycare situation. My son is in a privately run daycare centre with about 55 places, they also run a foundation room which is like a preschool. They follow a birth to 3 curriculum, so its learning through play. The girls are fantastic they LOVE the kids that are in there, they give them TONS of love and hugs all day long. They are a from all over the place (some local, some from Poland, and my favorite girl who just left was from Scotland) and I ADORE the lady who owns/runs the nursery. She is a Mom, and I feel that she is like me…not perfect, but trying as bloody hard as she can. When I went for my first viewing, she had her own son in the foundation room. She isn’t perfect, which I love, and she is the fist to admit if things aren’t going right. She has her own kids in, and she has unexpectedly fallen pregnant and she has been laughing about it since she announced it. If I ask her to change something for us, it gets done, and I love that.

My big downside is that its on quite a busy road and the parking isn’t great. But that’s it. Otherwise, it’s a great situation

Re: what do you LOVE about your daycare?

Both of my kiddies' teachers are wonderful. They really interact and keep them busy. I've seen places where the teachers just stand around talking to each other and this is when parents are around so can you imagine if we weren't there!

They do lots of crafts. They have a guy come in and play guitar and sing once a week and have an AMAZING playground!

As far as hating... just the usual stuff that is unavoidable like the illnesses, parking, $$$$$$. I'm not too keen on how they remedy some of the behavioral issues.

Message edited 4/3/2008 6:44:34 AM.

Re: what do you LOVE about your daycare?

I love the fact that the administrators and office staff know each of the kids by name - even though there are a lot of kids and they don't teach 'a class'. It's a small thing - but it just seems to show a certain level of investment that I find comforting.

I also love that the kids have a 'curriculum'. They are socializing and playing - but they are absolutely learning as well. They have science experiments that appeal to them - like they get to drop a cotton ball, a raisin and a rock into water and then they say what they observed. It's really neat. This week they made volcanoes that will be 'exploding' on Friday.

They have gym class and art class like 'big kids' - which gratifies my son who is happy to tell his big brother that he does these things at school too. The whole staff treats the children with respect and itis evident in the way that the kids respond.

I love that they have buses (although I am out of range for transportation so can't take advantage). I love that they treat me as a partner in my child's education - not an observer. I love that they use everything as a learning experience and really make the day educational instead of just 'babysitting'. I feel confident that my son will have little or no challenge transitioning to Kindergarten.

I love that the graduation is a 'real' graduation in the Middle School Gym.

What I don't love? The hours are not 'daycare' center hours. They follow a school calendar. So normal hours are 9-3:45. The kids can be there as early as 8:45. There is early care and after care available for an additional (nominal) charge. It is also a little frustrating that they follow the school calendar for 'breaks' and 'holidays'. BUT - I have another son in 1st grade so I would have to find care anyway. And in a way it is also kind of a preparation for what will lay ahead once 'real school' starts.

Re: what do you LOVE about your daycare?

I like that it's family owned, the 3 directors are all sisters each with their own children who attend. They also all now my son by name even though there are alot of kids in the center. They have a large inground pool onsite with lifeguard, a large gym, and they offer "extras" like gymnastics and computer classes. They will pick up Ryan from elementary school once he gets to that age, and bring him there for after care. The class he's in now has a good balance of structure (arts and crafts, circle time, stories/puppet shows) and also free play. He's been w/alot of the same kids since 3 months old and will go to school w/most of them.
It's convenient to home and work, reasonably priced and they really love and care about him. They take pics throughout the day and have sent me home with many! They have a fantastic photographer who comes in 2x/year and takes great professional pics (saves me having to do this on weekends!)
Oh and they will help me potty train him when he's ready! Also he eats like a champ at school.
What I don't love is the typical stuff - germs, after hours teachers are not his "all day" teachers (but they are regular so he knows them just as well). I had some issues in his previous class but that was more around the fact that the main teacher was going through chemo so wasn't around as much. not as big a deal at that age,a ll he wanted to do was roam and play and get hugged up anyway :)

Re: what do you LOVE about your daycare?

I am just starting with a new center. He just did a trial day. I love that it is a super small private day care. The owner is absolutely fantastic, just a sweetheart. She has a great curriculum for the children, and seems to know how to balance an infant with the other children. She has a wonderful set up for the children. computers etc.. for the older children, and then a beautiful infant area.

The only thing I don't like is the basement entrance